Former EFL star Adrian Clarke has revealed that Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna told him that Southampton and Leeds United are the teams under pressure at the moment.
Ipswich have had a flying start to the season, but their recent form has taken a dip as they have managed to win only one out of their last six Championship games.
Southampton, who are aiming for automatic promotion, have managed to climb up the league and have reduced the gap to second-placed Ipswich to only three points.
Clarke however revealed that the Ipswich boss told him that Leeds and Southampton are the teams under pressure, and he believes that the Blues players are benefiting from McKenna’s calmness.
The ex-EFL star believes that everybody expects Southampton to snatch second spot from Ipswich and thinks that with a settled squad, Saints should push past the Blues to take up the second automatic promotion spot.
“I spoke to McKenna after the Stoke draw and he was very chilled, like he is not worried”, Clarke said on the What The EFL podcast.
“He just said, ‘All the pressure is on Southampton and Leeds, we are just enjoying the season’ and I think if that rubs off on the players that might relax them.
“There is pressure on Southampton; most people now almost assume that they are going to usurp Ipswich and take that second spot, but they have to earn it.
“They have some big games coming up, they have a settled side now, they will control the vast majority of the matches and providing Adam Armstrong stays fit, Edozie as well has come to the fore, and they probably should.”
Southampton are 19 matches unbeaten in the league and they are set to take on Swansea City next before facing Watford in the FA Cup.
